When Weakness Is Strength 软弱变刚强
Dexu Xia
Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame? Jeremiah 20:18
Drew had been imprisoned for two years because he served Jesus. He’d read stories of missionaries who felt constant joy throughout their incarceration, but he confessed this was not his experience. He told his wife that God had picked the wrong man to suffer for Him. She replied, “No. I think maybe He picked the right man. This was not an accident.”
Drew could likely relate to the prophet Jeremiah, who had faithfully served God by warning Judah that God would punish them for their sins. But God’s judgment hadn’t fallen yet, and Judah’s leaders beat Jeremiah and put him in stocks. Jeremiah blamed God: “You deceived me, Lord” (Jeremiah 20:7). The prophet believed God had failed to deliver. His word had only “brought [him] insult and reproach all day long” (v. 8). “Cursed be the day I was born!” Jeremiah said. “Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” (vv. 14, 18).
Eventually Drew was released, but through his ordeal he began to understand that perhaps God chose him—much like He chose Jeremiah—because he was weak. If he and Jeremiah had been naturally strong, they might have received some of the praise for their success. But if they were naturally weak, all the glory for their perseverance would go to God (1 Corinthians 1:26–31). His frailty made him the perfect person for Jesus to use.
Where do you feel particularly weak? How might you turn your weakness into a significant spiritual advantage?
Jesus, Your power is made visible in my weakness. I confess my failings so I can boast in You!
我为何出胎见劳碌愁苦，使我的年日因羞愧消灭呢？—耶利米书20章18节
德鲁因为服事耶稣而被监禁了两年。他读过一些宣教士的传记，知道他们在被监禁期间仍然心中喜乐，但德鲁承认自己并非如此。他告诉他的妻子说，上帝选错了人来为祂受苦。他的妻子回答：“不。我想上帝应该是选对了人，因为这件事绝非偶然。”
或许，德鲁可以体会先知耶利米的遭遇。耶利米忠心地事奉上帝，警告犹太人，上帝会因他们的罪孽施行惩罚。但在上帝的审判临到之前，犹大国的领袖殴打耶利米，又把他栓上枷锁。耶利米责怪上帝说：“耶和华啊！祢愚弄了我”（20章7节，新译本）。耶利米认为上帝没有遵守承诺，上帝的话使他整天受人辱骂和讥讽（8节）。因此，耶利米说：“愿我生的那一天受咒诅！我为什么要出母胎，经历劳苦和忧伤，并且我的年日都消逝在羞辱之中呢？”（14、18节，新译本）
德鲁最终获得释放，但经过这次的磨难，他开始明白也许上帝拣选他，正是因为他很软弱，就像上帝拣选软弱的耶利米一样。如果他和耶利米天生个性刚强，他们的坚忍可能会使自己得到一些赞扬；但如果他们天生个性软弱，他们的坚忍所带来的一切荣耀都会归于上帝（哥林多前书1章26-31节）。德鲁的软弱反而使他成为可让耶稣使用的最佳人选。
你觉得自己在哪方面特别软弱？
你如何让你的软弱被上帝来使用？
耶稣啊，祢的能力在我的软弱上显得完全。
我承认自己的失败，这样我就可以靠着祢夸口！